Muellema

Own 2 Pro Max since 08/2024. Briefly saying one flash is working flawless, one is from my point of view a nightmare. Causes different kind of issues since beginning. Starting that the new device stop working after approx. 10 dives on a liveaboard in Indonesia until just now wih current problem that I realized during firmware update, that the device only started on 100 power mode after turn on (I realized myself after several trials, because I tried to start on lower power dial level) . Lot"s of email correpondence and discussions in the past and current. Many suggestion from RETRA "Push this button on this dial mode..... if this is not working try that... may be battery cap... on and on and on....) For me funny thing is that all differnt kind of problems happen to same device and RETRA gives me all the time the opinion that everything is ok with the device itself. I"m very very frustrated how RETRA handles the issues. Just unhappy customer.....

I`m waiting for Pro Max VII. Hopefully working more reliable then one of my Pro Max I.

Hi all, interesting thread. Wanna just throw in some of my experience. Dived a lot worlwide in the last +30 years. Philippines first 1999. Last time 2023 for 2 month/ approx. 100 dives. From my point of view Phillipines is still a good spot to visit and very reasonable. Hard to say were to go. Depends on your personal choice, what you wanna see, time oft he year….. Big stuff and coral wall is not really a thing, but still exist if you heading for example to Palawan/Tubbataha, Apo reef.... What I did 2024 : 1. Anilao (mostly Macro) 2. Busuanga (we`ve been north to see the Dugongs, dived El Nido and the wrecks already 2002) 3. Palawan/Tubbataha 4. South Leyte/Sogod Bay (famous for Whale Sharks, but we did`nt do that, but there is also some good reef/macro diving) 5. Anda Bohol (little disappointing, lots of broken coral and bleaching, but some o.K. walls + turtles) 6. Dauin/Negros, still a very very good macro spot 7. Malapascua, The new spot fort the Treshers is amazing. I`ve dived the old spot Monad 2 times in early 2000. Completely different know. Depth arround +/- 15m it looks like the Treshers fly arround everywhere. Malapascua is also still a good macro spot + Mandarin. To see right stuff on place always „go with the locals“. Attached a few pictures all shot in Phillipines 2023. Nothing special just picked a few I found in short time to give you an idea of the diversity you might find. Br Markus

May be RETRA offers Pro Max users update on excisting flash for reasonable price. New flash Max II looks mechanically quiet similar so may be there is only exchange of electronic & reflector necessary (just kidding/dream, they want to sell new ones). Anyway would be a great idea to support underwater photographers in future. Also would be great in relation of sustainability. Getting new updates of hardware in short sequence is quiet anoying. Br Markus

Hi, the Youshiko charger I usually use back home has all kind of modes like different charge modes with more or less power/speed, refresh, test, discharge. But as already mentioned I used only on the diving trip the EBL FY-409 charger. It has only one charge mode. And it took about 6-10 hours to charge the eneloops (imagine arround 60-80% discharged) The charger was delivered and recommended by RETRA to charge the eneloops. Strange imagination if then the charger is the problem. Anyway many thanks for your support. Try also to contact eneloop distributor in Germany. If I get any news will let you know. Br Markus

Whatever, just wanna know what happen. May be can prevent other issues. Br Markus

@Davide DB Hi, any idea were to reach responsible person/body for Eneloop/Panasonic issue in europe? Br Markus

Hi, 3 of my -not too old- Eneloop pros are dead. See pictures. Have 32 of the pro`s (16 bought 2023 and 16 bought 2024) and 32 of "normal white" eneloops (arround +10 years old). Never ever had a issue with the old white ones. All still working. All of the Pros only slightly used on 2 dive trips with not too many charging cycles. At home I charge with Youshiko intelligent charger. During last dive trip I used EBL chargers recommended and supplied by Retra. Realized that sometimes the Pros during charge in EBL got extrem hot. Accus got no contact with saltwater etc.. Any ideas what happen? Thanks Markus

Hi Caolla, looks great. Created myself bumpers for Retra Pro`s. Printed also with TPU. My one look more basic, but they do there work. Can share files amd pictures if someone interested. Br Markus

Hi DocTock, Just a joke... look at the smilies. But.... I have converted 13mm lens. So if use a 20mm extension ring I`m able to install the teleconverter on my 13mm as the dome is separated from the lens itself. No idea if it works and what the result is. This was just a thought try something out and see what`s the result. 😁😁😛😛. Im not the theorist of optical engineering but sometimes you get interesting results just trying practually something. BR Markus

Hi, use D850 with Nikkor 8-15mm & Kenko 1.4 DGX. Combination works flawless without any problems. If interested can path you some example photos taken with this setup. Might be time to check if the Kenko is also working on my Nikonos 13mm 😁😁😁, never tried.. 😂😇 Br Markus

Hi all, Still stand to my comment that I ask RETRA to check the affected strobe after return back home and got answer from RETRA that the strobe now is working and from there point of view it`s not necessary to send back to check. From my point of view I cannot trust this strobe. If they tell me something about firmware update will fix, why did all things happen only on one strobe and nothing happend on the second one witch was working fine with same firmware. Anyway I stop here also due to comments like "less clear feedback from the customer"....+ our user manual explains how errors can be dismissed. Maybe i`m a little fool but I can read and follow the explanations provided in manual +app. But might be Alzheimer has reached me after getting my university engineering degree 35 years ago and also using & managed many different UW strobes in the last 20 years of underwater photography. No more comment from my side. I`m just pi..... Thanks Markus

Hi all, I`m also a Retra victim. Bought 2 Retra pro max with Booster in front of my 2 month travel in Indonesia September 2024 to substitude my very well working 3 Seacam 150D. Bought new Eneloops and tested everything back home in my office (no diving). In Indonesia one of the Strobes stopped working after few days. I was on a liveaboard on “forgotten islands trip” so communication was very hard. I lost the whole liveaboard trip the second strobe. After arrival mainland Indonesia Retra send me a miracle combination an how to restart the strobe so it might work. It start working again. No explanation why. Lot`s of Whatsapp communication…… and showed me the feeling I`m stupid. I tried everything and I`m no electronics specialist but I have technical background and can basically see if I do something wrong myself. ( interchange batteries, rest…. etc) Day`s later I put in fresh loaded batteries in the affected strobe and it showed zero battery power on the indicator and didn`t flashed.. Again contacting Retra….. Next miracle combination. Asked what I should I do if it´s happening again. Answer: use miracle combination…… and it happened again. I`m asking myself if I`m a user or tester.. or have to remember which combination of pressing knobs on the flash to start it working. In regard to the battery life incl. Booster my experience is that after around 50-60 shot´s full power the battery indicator on the Retras showed 1 bar battery live. I don`t know what I should believe, due to Retra words, but I always decided to change batteries before next dive to be shure to have enough power for the next dive. Asking Retra to check the affective flash after my return was negative. From my point of view a poor service if you refuse a customer request to check a not occassinaly working product in warranty phase. Br Markus PS Plan my next trip for around 2-3month in the south sea and would be very disappointed if my flash equipment fails…. Might be I should go back to my trusted Seacam`s 150`s, heavy but never failed (still laying in my shelf).

Hi, travelled a lot in Indonesia since 1992 and did a lot domestic flights with different companies in the past. Lion/Wings is notorious for delay and cancelled flights and it looks like it`s getting worse. We visited last year October/November for 2 month Indonesia for diving. First domestic connection with Lion was Denpassar-Makassar- Ambon. First booked stretch from Makassar was cancelled and we were booked on an earlier flight. After internationa arrival and some hours in Kuta DPS-UPG than was delayed 6h so we arrived after midnight in UPG and our new flight to Ambon was 05.00 in the morning instead of the primary booked flight at 09.00 that was cancelled by Lion. Fortunately we had booked the UPKG airport hotel so we found approx 3 hours sleep. Morning flight to Ambon delayed for 3 hours. Next step was Wings from Ambon to Saumlaki which worked fine. Next step Saumlaki- Ambon- Makassar-Manado nightmare again. Saumlaki- Ambon in time. Ambon- Makassar started 1 hour ahead of schedule. We had scheduled stop in UPG of 8h which turned out to 13h as we arrived one hour earlier and the flight to Manado was 4 hours delayed and than our luggage took 1,5h at MDC airport for pick up. Our pick up from the resort in Lembeh where waiting for hours till 3am at the airport to welcome us. After that we decided to fly with Garuda from Manado to Denpasar which worked fine. But be aware that compared to former times Garuda checked the hand luggage, not on check in but prior to boarding. We were lucky that they had already discussions with locals so we could path by without check. Extra sport/Diving luggage was no problem but we had to open the bag and they took photos of our diving equipment. Domestic travelling in Indonesia was much easier in former times. Just info on the current situation. Br Markus

Hi, we did a lot of travelling in Indonesia for the last 20 years+. In the past overall domestic flight travel was o.K. . Visiting 2024 October/November for 2 month again (Ambon, Saumlaki, Manado, Denpasar...). Lion AIr was a nightmare at these times. Flights cancelled and extreme delayed. Not even one worked. Good thing Cabin was luggage never checked. Garuda these times checked weight of domestic flight MDC-DPS on local passengers but not ours. Just for your info. Br Markus